developing science teacher leaders
TRANSCRIPT
Leadership for Educators: Academy for Driving Economic Revitalization in Science
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
Developing Science Teacher Leaders to Facilitate the Implementation of
Project-Based Science in Schools: Preliminary Findings
Gale MentzerJanet Struble
The University of Toledo
NARST Conference 2012Indianapolis, Indiana
Goal
To improve science education by making it relevant to students through the incorporation of Project-Based Science (PBS) that is linked to the renewable energies industry and its environmental impacts.
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Overview
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Overview
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Outcomes
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
1. Develop a cadre of effective teacher leaders who transform science education by linking science content with emerging science-based industries in Great Lakes Region.
2. Increase the number of teachers in partnering districts who have strong content, pedagogy and leadership skills and knowledge.
3. Transform existing K-12 science courses to rigorous and relevant science courses through PBS.
4. Prepare K-12 students who can meet science and mathematics achievement standards and who become interested in science and technical careers.
5. Develop community science education networks that collaborate through the development and implementation of advanced or improved science courses.
Plan of Study
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Term Course Credit
Summer I Physical Principles of Energy Sources for Humans 3.0
Chemical Aspects of Sustainable Energy 3.0
Project-Based Science 3.0
Leadership
AY 1 Leadership (cont.) 3.0
Summer II Biofuels 3.0
Earth Technologies 3.0
Climate Change 30.
Leadership
AY 2 Leadership (cont.) 3.0
Summer III Alternative Energy: Sources, Applications and Economics
3.0
Earth Systems Science 3.0
Master’s Project 3.0
AY 3 Leadership 3.0
Academic Year Activities
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Implementation of PBS
in their classrooms
Design and develop district professional development
Analysis & Findings
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Measures of Teacher Leadership
• Content• Pedagogical Content
• Science Teacher Self Efficacy Beliefs Instrument
• Science Teacher Ideological Preference Scale
• Leadership
Content Courses
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Course t statistic p value Cohen d U3
Physical Principles 18.60 0.0001 5.57 (large)1.00
Chemical Aspects 4.43 0.0004 0.94 (large)0.83
Biofuels 13.69 <0.0001 3.54 (large)1.00
Earth Technologies 4.06 0.0010 3.92 (large)1.00
Assessment & Leadership
5.27 0.0002 4.78 (large) 1.00
STEBI (Science Teacher Efficacy Beliefs Instrument)
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
mean mu t p
Personal Beliefs 42.38 23 10.57 < 0.05
Outcome Expectancy 46.76 30.5 7.98 < 0.05
Scale Mean1 Mean2 t p d U3
OE 35.41 46.76 1.20 0.13 0.52 0.70
PB 41.09 42.38 2.06 0.03 0.2 0.58
When compared with the previous year:
STIPS (Science Teacher Ideological Preference Scale)
Teacher Leaders preferred inquiry-based instructional strategies over non-inquiry
based strategies at a ratio of 1.6:1.0
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
mean mu t p
Inquiry Preference 32.40 24.81 2.75 < 0.025
Non-Inquiry Preference 20.40 30.58 -14.21 < 0.025
STIPS (Science Teacher Ideological Preference Scale)
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
• The student should figure out on his/her own the important concepts of the materials being studied rather than receiving them directly from the teacher.
• Students should have a major role in making decisions about what are the best means for learning the concepts in the material being studied.
• To learn a scientific law or principle, students should be provided exemplifying instances from which they infer it without the teacher giving it
Items difficult for teacher leaders to agree with:
LI (Leadership Inventory)
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
• Leadership responsibilities: very little change (increased from 68 to 69 rankings of 4 or 5).
• Comfort engaging in leadership activities: increased dramatically (107 positive responses in 2011 as opposed to 11 in 2010).
LI (Leadership Inventory)
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
• Designing customized professional learning opportunities and programs for other science educators.
• Providing energy-related content support to other science educators.
• Organizing and facilitating professional learning communities for science educators.
• Being an advocate for science activities and strategies.• Working with scientists and industry partners.
Areas of increased comfort levels:
LI (Leadership Inventory)
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
• I am knowledgeable about project-based science.• I have the knowledge and skills to help new teachers
understand and teach about energy issues.• I have the knowledge and skills to write curriculum about
energy issues.• I have the knowledge and skills to help experienced teachers
understand and teach about energy issues.
Knowledge & Skills Improvement
District Teacher Feedback
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
• Learned new content and how to use new equipment. • Realized students lack essential problem solving skills.• The teachers are now more likely to take risks in the
classroom. • Appreciated resources and guidance.• Want to continue their interaction with TLs and their fellow
science teachers.
Findings
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Substantial gains in content and leadership skills
Remained constant in pedagogical content
TLs have been successful in providing PBS professional development to the science teachers in their districts
Questions/Comments
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
Funded by the National Science Foundation Grant # 0927996
LEADERS is a partnership of the The University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Toledo Catholic Schools, and Monroe County Schools.
LEADERS Information
Dr. Gale Mentzer
Janet Struble
419-530-4993